Detours and Quick Visits Archives | Things To Do In Wales

November 19, 2020November 19, 2020

Henrhyd Waterfall

If this waterfall looks familiar, you might recognise it as the entrance to the Bat Cave from the 2012 film The Dark Knight Rises. At 88 feet, Henrhyd is the highest waterfall in South Wales and, thanks to its movie appearance and the resulting increase in people wanting to see it, work has been completed in recent years to make it more accessible without risking damage to the surrounding Site of Special Scientific Interest.

The full walk will take about 2-3 hours but just walking to the falls takes only about 10 minutes. Almost as soon as you leave the car par and start along the path, you can hear the sound of the waterfall and catch a glimpse of it though the trees. At this point you are slightly higher than the top of the falls. The path heads down into the valley to the level of the riverbank below the falls. When you reach that point, the main Nant Llech walk heads off to the right. Turning left, the path leads to a bridge and on to the waterfall basin. If there’s been a lot of rainfall in the days before your visit there will be a lot of spray and the path can be quite slippery so be careful. But if you’re prepared to get wet, you can get really close to the waterfall and even walk behind it.

Henrhyd is just as beautiful in summer or winter.

Other Nearby Waterfalls

Melincourt Waterfall

Four Waterfalls Walk

Useful Information

Car Parking is free.

Henrhyd Falls and Nant Llech walk Map

GPS Coordinates: 51.795628, -3.664320

Postcode: SA10 9PG

This postcode gets you to the village of Coelbren. If your Sat Nav takes you along the A4221 and into the village from the west, keep driving until you exit the village and come to a cross roads. Turn left at the crossroads and the Henrhyd Falls carpark will be on your left a few hundred yards up the hill. If your Sat Nav takes you along Camnant Road (a wide single lane road through some beautiful scenery) keep going until you come to a crossroads, just before a bridge, with a sign for Coelbren pointing to the left. Do not turn left towards Coelbren, cross the bridge and the Henrhyd Falls carpark will be on your left a few hundred yards up the hill.

November 3, 2020December 3, 2020

Melincourt Waterfall

This is an excellent place to stop for a short break if you’re heading to West Wales along the M4 Motorway or the A465 “Heads of The Valleys” road.

Melincourt waterfall is often overlooked because it’s out on its own, away from the better known falls of the nearby Waterfall Country. In my opinion though, it’s as impressive as any of the others and, despite its advantage of being even easier to access, it is usually relatively quiet. Park up in the small free carpark, cross the road and take a short easy stroll along the riverbank through a wooded area. After about 5-10 minutes you’ll reach the lower pool of this 80ft high waterfall.

Other Nearby Waterfalls

Henrhyd Waterfall

Four Waterfalls Trail

Useful Information

Parking is free.

GPS Coordinates: 51.704186, -3.706982

Postcode: SA11 4AS

This postcode will get you to the main road within a few hundred yards of the carpark which is just off the road and is well signposted.

October 5, 2020November 19, 2020

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

Another of Wales’ UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Built between 1795 and 1805, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is a cast iron trough on top of 18 stone piers that carries the Llangollen canal 38m (126ft) high over the River Dee. The design and construction was overseen by respected canal engineer William Jessop, but many of the project’s technical details were developed by Thomas Telford, who would go on to become one of Britain’s most celebrated civil engineers.

Boat trips along the canal and across the aqueduct are available from Llangollen Wharf. The Trevor Basin, adjacent to the aqueduct, has a Visitor Centre and a pleasant canalside Pub. If you’re feeling brave, you can walk along the tow path across the aqueduct. If you do, you’ll be rewarded with some spectacular views. Carry on a little along the canal and enjoy a peaceful calming walk. After that, make your way down into the valley and view the aqueduct from below, the engineering achievement is perhaps even more impressive viewed from this perspective.

So how do you pronounce Pontcysyllte?

The name of this place can be difficult to pronounce if you’re not from Wales (and even for some who are!) It’s pronounced PONT-KUH-SUSTH-TEH

To make the sound I’ve highlighted in bold, put your tongue behind your top front teeth like you would to make an “L” sound and then blow so that the air escapes at either side of your mouth.